Since he arrived at Real Madrid in the summer of 2010, Mourinho has found all kinds of reasons to divert the discussion from the purely football

There has been something for everyone. Mourinho's catalogue of excuses to justify the pratfalls Real Madrid has suffered with him in the dugout is extensive and touches on everyone. Even the club hasn't escaped the furious attacks the manager has used in an attempt to hide each and every one of the team's blunders.

Referees, the press, the fixtures list, the players, the medical staff, the Bernabéu, Barça, UEFA, the youth academy, the opposition, the project, Toril, Valdano... Since he arrived at Real Madrid in the summer of 2010, Mou has found all kinds of reasons to divert the discussion from the purely football. The list is never-ending.

Referees are the biggest thorn in his side. On many occasions he's been so angry at the end of a game that he's taken the bad result out on them. In his first season, we saw him compile the list of 13 mistakes that Clos Gómez made during the a game with Sevilla, brutally criticise Pérez Lasa after the draw with Almeria and wait for Teixeira Vitienes in the car park at the Camp Nou. Then there was the famous outburst of "whys and becauses" at the Bernabéu after being knocked out of the Champions League against Barça.

In his eyes, he's defending his team and denouncing injustices. For others, they're excuses aimed at talking about anything other than the team's performance. It's Mou against the world.